Though his songs have been covered by others over the years (everyone from pal Elvis Costello to US soul-popster Curtis Stigers), pop poet Nick Lowe is generally thought of more as a recording artist than as a source of material for others. As this tribute album proves, however, Lowe's blend of soul, pop, rock, and country is infinitely adaptable to the approaches of other artists. After a shaky, whose-idea-was-this beginning courtesy of folkie Dar Williams, things quickly heat up as Lowe's pub-rock peer Graham Parker offers a folkie take on "The Rose of England," spiced up by T-Bone Wolk's accordion and the presence of original Rumour drummer Steve Goulding.

Tom Petty makes the bluesy "Cracking Up" his own, and first-generation rockabilly man Sleepy LaBeef lends his earth-shaking baritone voice to the Tex-Mex jumper "Half a Boy and Half a Man." Midwestern singer-songwriter Greg Brown's version of "Where's My Everything" manages to deftly capture both the desperation and self-deprecating humor inherent in the song. Marshall Crenshaw offers a heartfelt "Cruel to be Kind," from Lowe's brief, legendary tenure with Rockpile. Bluesman manque Guy Davis evinces the same lack of soul on "Soulful Wind" that mars his usual attempts at the blues, but things close nicely with the aforementioned cohort Costello's effectively understated version of the melodic ballad "Egypt."